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Aaron Lynch | Defensive End

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USF strength coach Hans Straub has resigned following his tweet criticizing the 49ers for selecting edge player Aaron Lynch.

The tweet read: "Thought an organization with 5 Super Bowl titles would have a stricter draft criteria. Clearly, integrity & character are not a priority." Lynch's time at USF was not completely positive, and Straub likely had firsthand exposures to it. However, recruiting can be impacted when a former top transfer is publicly criticized by a member of the school's staff. Wed, May 14, 2014 10:27:00 AM

USF strength coach Hans Straub has been suspended following a tweet that criticized the 49ers for selecting edge player Aaron Lynch in the fifth-round.

The tweet read: "Thought an organization with 5 Super Bowl titles would have a stricter draft criteria. Clearly, integrity & character are not a priority." It has since been deleted. Lynch transferred to USF following a great freshman year at Notre Dame, but failed to produce the same success in Florida. He lost a good amount of weight and looked like a totally different player. Tue, May 13, 2014 11:15:00 AM

USF edge rusher Aaron Lynch, San Francisco's No. 150 overall pick, will only see the field next season as a defensive end in nickel packages, according to CSNBayArea's Matt Maiocco.

The 49ers believe the fifth-rounder's future is at OLB as a stand-up rusher. Already raw, San Francisco knows it's going to take a few years for the acclimation to complete. Lynch will spend those years as a situational pass rusher, a role he's ready for right now. As a true freshman starter at Notre Dame, Lynch (6-foot-5, 249) looked like a future top-ten pick as a terror off the edge. His time at South Florida didn't go as planned, and Lynch's draft stock plummeted as a result. He's still only 21, and has a world of talent. Sun, May 11, 2014 05:49:00 PM

Lynch (6-foot-5, 249) had the look of a future top-ten pick as a true freshman starter at Notre Dame, but transferred to USF to be closer to his family and had a disappointing 2013 season before declaring for the draft. He wound up playing just two years of college ball, recording 19.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks. Lynch ran 4.69 at the Bulls' Pro Day, adding a 9-foot-9 broad jump and 18 bench-press reps. Still only 21, the 49ers need to decide if they want Lynch to gain weight and play inside like at Notre Dame, or get him more comfortable in a stand up role on the edge. Sat, May 10, 2014 02:57:00 PM

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USF strength coach Hans Straub has been suspended following a tweet that criticized the 49ers for selecting edge player Aaron Lynch in the fifth-round.

The tweet read: "Thought an organization with 5 Super Bowl titles would have a stricter draft criteria. Clearly, integrity & character are not a priority." It has since been deleted. Lynch transferred to USF following a great freshman year at Notre Dame, but failed to produce the same success in Florida. He lost a good amount of weight and looked like a totally different player.

USF edge rusher Aaron Lynch, San Francisco's No. 150 overall pick, will only see the field next season as a defensive end in nickel packages, according to CSNBayArea's Matt Maiocco.

The 49ers believe the fifth-rounder's future is at OLB as a stand-up rusher. Already raw, San Francisco knows it's going to take a few years for the acclimation to complete. Lynch will spend those years as a situational pass rusher, a role he's ready for right now. As a true freshman starter at Notre Dame, Lynch (6-foot-5, 249) looked like a future top-ten pick as a terror off the edge. His time at South Florida didn't go as planned, and Lynch's draft stock plummeted as a result. He's still only 21, and has a world of talent.

Lynch (6-foot-5, 249) had the look of a future top-ten pick as a true freshman starter at Notre Dame, but transferred to USF to be closer to his family and had a disappointing 2013 season before declaring for the draft. He wound up playing just two years of college ball, recording 19.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks. Lynch ran 4.69 at the Bulls' Pro Day, adding a 9-foot-9 broad jump and 18 bench-press reps. Still only 21, the 49ers need to decide if they want Lynch to gain weight and play inside like at Notre Dame, or get him more comfortable in a stand up role on the edge.

"...I can put weight on so I let teams know that I could go up to 270 (pounds)," Lynch said following the school's pro day. "It all depends on how my weight stays. If I stay 250, 260 then I'll probably be at outside linebacker. But I'll play wherever." Lynch was a future stay while playing end in a three man front during his freshman year at Notre Dame, but lost a ton of weight once transferring at USF. He has plenty of talent, but fit could be a critical piece in Lynch's projection.

USF edge player Aaron Lynch ran two forty times of 4.66 and 4.68 seconds at the school's Pro Day.

Lynch also posted a 29-inch vertical jump, which is not good. The Notre Dame transfer has been dealing with hamstring issues, which kept him out of the Combine, and they reportedly flared up again during the workout. Lynch has all the talent in the world, and looked to be a rising star as an end in an odd front while at Notre Dame. His game and frame drastically changed at USF, however, so many teams will have more questions than answers.

Draft insider Tony Pauline is being told that there are "major red-flags... coming out of the combine" on USF DE Aaron Lynch.

Pauline hasn't yet specified if the concerns are medical or character related, but this is disheartening news nonetheless. Lynch declared for the draft after his redshirt sophomore season with the Bulls. He missed the 2012 season after transferring from Notre Dame to South Florida and admitted in September to having an ego while playing for the Irish. This is a first-round physical talent who is likely to be available on the draft's third day. He could take off in the right scheme or wash out quickly.

Lynch looks like a very different player compared to his 2011 tape at Notre Dame. With the Irish he frequently lined up as a three or five technique and consistently played at a high level. Lynch did not look as comfortable in space on the edge, but the talent did not just disappear. Landing spot might be a critical piece to his future.

Former Notre Dame and USF redshirt sophomore DE Aaron Lynch has signed with an agent and will declare for the draft, according to Neil Stratton.

The school has confirmed the report. Lynch was a powerhouse pass rusher who combined strength, length, and athleticism in his one season with the Irish. After sitting out a season due to transfer rules, Lynch looked like a fairly different player for the Bulls both physically and stylistically. Still, he is a very intriguing prospect and still has a chance to be in the top-40.

NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah believes it would be a "big mistake" if USF redshirt sophomore DE Aaron Lynch declared for May's NFL Draft.

"He has just two sacks this season, and he's currently 12th on the team with 19 tackles," Jeremiah writes. "He was expected to enter the NFL draft following this season, but that would be a big mistake. He needs to stay at USF and continue to develop." Lynch's lean frame has been noticeable this season, but his talent did not just disappear into thin air. We think Lynch's game has improved in recent weeks, but he hasn't taken a big enough step forward this season.

South Florida redshirt sophomore DE Aaron Lynch admitted to having an ego at Notre Dame.

"I was a team player there [at Notre Dame], but at the same time, I was getting a lot of looks and that got to my head in a way," he said. "It was really just all about me." Lynch transferred to USF after one season with the Irish in order to play closer to home. That redshirt season makes him draft-eligible this year, and he has the talent level of a first-round selection.

NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah classifies USF redshirt sophomore DE Aaron Lynch as one of his Top 5 breakout players for this upcoming season.

Lynch missed last season after transferring from Notre Dame to South Florida. Lynch showed plenty of promise during his only year in South Bend, recording 5.5 sacks as a true freshman. He "displayed an impressive blend of size, power and agility," writes Jeremiah. We expect Lynch to play a hybrid pass rushing role with the Bulls, lining up in a three-point stance as a stand-up outside linebacker. If he has a destructive season, Lynch could conceivably enter the 2014 draft.

Jeremiah notes Lynch "plays a little high but his hands are quick/violent." After playing much heavier with Notre Dame, Lynch is currently in the 245 pound range with the hope of getting to 260. Expect him to play a hybrid pass rushing role, lining up in a three point stance and as a stand up outside linebacker.

An opposing college football coach told CBS Sports' Jeremy Fowler that USF redshirt sophomore DE Aaron Lynch "is a freak."

"They tell me he's better than Jason Pierre-Paul when he was there," The coach added. "I've been around some good D-lineman. If he does what he's supposed to do, he'll be dominant." Despite missing the 2012 season due to transfer regulations, Lynch could elect to enter the 2014 NFL Draft. His game could look a bit different, however, since he currently weighs around 245 pounds.

USF HC Willie Taggart believes redshirt sophomore DE Aaron Lynch has matured during his time at USF, and part of that transformation can be seen with his weight.

"The thing I really like is how much he has grown as a person in just the short amount of time that I've been here," Taggart said. "I came in and I heard he was this and he was that. That he wasn't accountable. That he was undisciplined. That he did things his own way. But the kid has been totally different since we've been here. He's really taken care of his business, on and off the field." Lynch currently weighs 245 pounds after playing at 270 while attending Notre Dame. Taggart would like Lynch to weigh in the 250-260 range.